Ex-Telkom Kenya staff go to court to oppose talks on disposal of firm
PHOTO | FILE Telkom Kenya CEO Mickael Ghossein. Former Telkom Kenya employees have gone to court to stop an announced sale of the company arguing that this will fatally destroy their lives.
What you need to know:
- They said it was in serious financial crisis and had been engaging in negotiations with other parties to sell or transfer its property.
- The decision by the high court was appealed by Telkom but failed to win and was ordered to pay the dues.
Former Telkom Kenya employees have gone to court to stop an announced sale of the company arguing that this will fatally destroy their lives.
They said it was in serious financial crisis and had been engaging in negotiations with other parties to sell or transfer its property.
According to lawyer Tom Oluoch, the former staff are apprehensive that unless an order of injunction is issued restraining the sale of Telkom, they stand to lose an award of two and a half months salary as well as golden handshake given to all those who were retrenched.
“The main suit seeks a declaration that the intended sale and disposal of assets of Telkom would fatally impair the former employees and we are seeking an injunction restraining such sale of the company,” the lawyer said.
The former workers are seeking a permanent injunction restraining the company, its servants or agents from entering into any sale agreement of the telecommunication company or any of its listed properties.
Mr Oluoch said the group obtained judgment against Telkom on September 28, 2011 ordering it to pay all former employees’ for being unduly sacked.
The decision by the high court was appealed by Telkom but failed to win and was ordered to pay the dues.
The workers’ lawyer estimates that each former employee will receive between Sh900,000 and Sh3.5 million as severance pay depending on the number of years worked. The total pay due to the workers cumulatively comes to Sh3.2 billion. The case continues.
